BEIJING – The Chinese capital plans to build 1,000 new minimarkets and convenience stores before it hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Beijing Economic Daily said on Sunday.

The news follows last week&#039s announcement that the city is to launch “the largest toilet revolution in its history” to make life better for its 15 million residents and the expected hordes of Olympic tourists.

In addition to the new stores, Beijing intends to renovate 55 shopping centres, supermarkets and small shops to ensure access for the disabled, the newspaper said.

Also on the cards is creation of 500 franchised laundry and pressing shops, it added.

On Thursday, the city unveiled plans to upgrade 1,263 public lavatories in central districts before the end of this year.

Xinhua news agency said the massive program would see the replacement of Beijing&#039s “notoriously fetid back-street latrines with clean, well-maintained flush ones”.